Mineral disintegrating head mechanism



Aug. 21, 1962 Filed April 13, 1959 FIG. I.

C. F. OSGOOD MINERAL DISINTEGRATING HEAD MECHANISM FIG. 2.

2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Aug. 21, 1962 C. F. OSGOOD MINERAL DISINTEGRATING HEAD MECHANISM Filed April 13, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

3,059,295 Patented Aug. 21, 1952 3,050,295 MINERAL DISINTEGRATING HEAD MECHANISM Charles F. Osgood, Franklin, Pa, assignor to Joy Manufacturing Company, Pittsburgh, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 806,164 14 Claims. (Cl. 26229) This invention relates to a mineral disintegrating mechanism and more particularly to a swingable disintegrating head mechanism for a continuous mining apparatus for dislodging and disintegrating the mineral of a solid mine vein.

In the continuous mining of coal or other minerals from the solid it has become common practice to tear away the mineral from the mine vein by means of a series of endless disintegrating chains carrying teeth or bits which penetrate, dislodge and disintegrate the mineral, and the disintegrated mineral is usually conveyed away from the working face of the mine vein by conveyor means embodied in the apparatus. The present invention contemplates improvements over such chain type disintegrating heads in that rapidly moving endless bit carrying chains cut parallel slots in the mineral and oppositely circulating relatively slowly moving bit carrying chains engage and break away the projections or cores of mineral between the slots and convey the disintegrated mineral away from the working face and toward the conveying means of the apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved mineral disintegrating mechanism. Another Object is to provide an improved mineral disintegrating mechanism embodying relatively oppositely moving endless disintegrating chains certain of which move along the guideways of a guide frame in different non-circular orbits from the non-circular orbits of circulation of the others. A further object is to provide an improved swingable head mechanism for a continuous mining apparatus. A still further object is to provide an improved disintegrating head mechanism swingable in a vertical plane between the floor and roof of a mine and having rapidly circulating core breaking and conveyor chains, with the chains traveling in non-circular orbits along the guideways of a swingable guide frame. Yet another object is to provide an improved disintegrating head mechanism of the full face type for attacking and dislodging the mineral along a working face to provide a passageway in the mine vein of a width sufficient to receive the apparatus as mining progresses. Still another object is to provide an improved mounting and driving means for a disintegrating head mechanism of the above character. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

5 In the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes of illustration a preferred form and modificat-ions thereof which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan View of the preferred form of the improved disintegrating head mechanism, showing the same embodied in a. continuous mining apparatus of a conventional type.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the mining apparatus shown in FIG. 1, with different positions of the disintegrating head mechanism indicated in full and dotted lines.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal longitudinal section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing structural details.

FIG. 4 is a detail vertical section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing a modified construction.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section, on a reduced scale, taken through the structure of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through the modified structure of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6, showing a further modification.

In accordance with this invention the improved mineral disintegrating head mechanism, generally designated 1, is shown embodied in a continuous mining apparatus of a coven'tional type generally designated 2, having a crawler base 3 carrying a frame 4 on the forward portion of which the disintegrating head mechanism is pivotally mounted at 5. The head mechanism may attack and disintegrate the mineral of the mine vein, and a front gathering mechanism 6 serves to gather the loose mineral on the mine floor and to move the same onto the conveying means 7 of the apparatus. Suitable motors 8 mounted at opposite sides of the base frame drive the disintegrating head mechanism, and pumps 9, also driven by these motors, serve to supply liquid under pressure to the various hydraulically operated devices of the apparatus. Hydraulic motors 19 serve to drive the crawler treads of the base and hydraulic jacks 11 are connected between the disintegrating mechanism and the base frame for swinging the head mechanism in a vertical plane about its pivot arcuately between the mine floor and roof. By trapping liquid in these swing sylinders the head mechanism may be locked in its different angular positions. The gatherin mechanism 6 has a tiltable loading head frame 1.2 adjustable by hydraulic jacks in a known manner and includes oscillatory gathering arms 13 which engage the loose mineral on the mine floor and move it rearwardly and inwardly toward the front receiving portion of the conveying means 7.

Now referring to the specific structure of the improved disintegrating head mechanism it will be noted that the base frame 4 has parallel forwardly extending side portions 15 provided with outwardly projecting trunnions 16 supporting bearings 17 on which rearward bearing engaging side portions 18 of the head frame are pivotally supported. The head frame has an adjustable outer nose portion 1? providing curved chain guides, and is guided at 20 for longitudinal adjustment relative to the main portion 21 of the head frame. A screw and nut adjusting mechanism 22, desirably operated by suitable operating means including gearing 23 and a cross rod 24, is provided for effecting adjustment of the outer nose portion relative to the main rearward frame portion.

The head frame has vertical side guide bar portions 26 and an intermediate vertical guide bar portion 27 located at the longitudinal vertical center of the head mechanism, and endless disintegrating and slot cutting chains 28 are guided for circulation in elongated non-circular orbits along the marginal guideways of these three parallel guide bar portions.

The driving means for these disintegrating and slot cutting chains comprises, as shown in FIG. 3, spur pinions 36 meshing with spur gears 31 driving spur gears 32, which in turn mesh with spur gears 33 fixed to longitudinal shafts 34 suitably journaled within gear housings 35 provided on the base frame. The shafts 34 have secured to their forward ends bevel gears 36 meshing with and driving bevel gears 37 secured to a transverse horizontal shaft 33 suitably journaled within bearings supported within the gear housings and within the outer vertical bar portions 26 as shown. This cross shaft is arranged coaxial with the pivot 5 of the head mechanism and has secured thereto chain sprockets 39 which engage and drive the disintegrating chains 28.

Arranged intermediate the vertical guide bars 26 and 27 are transverse guide frame portions 44 providing parallel vertical guid eways about which endless bit carrying core breaking and conveying chains 41 are guided for circulation in non-circular orbits parallel with the orbits of the disintegrating chains 28, and these chains are driven by chain sprockets 42. The orbits in which the chains 41 travel are substantially smaller than and of different shape from the orbits of the slot cutting chains 28 and these core breaking and conveying chains desirably travel in a direction opposite from the direction of circulation of the chains 28 and at a relatively slower speed.

The driving means for these core breaking and conveying chains comprises spur gears 43 driving through intermeshing spur gears 44 spur gears 45' secured to a transverse horizontal shaft 46 journaled within the head frame in parallel relation with and in advance of the cross shaft 38. The chain sprockets 42 are secured to and driven by the cross shaft 46. The gearings 43, 44 and 45 are arranged in chambers 47 formed within the side guide bar portions 26 of the head frame. By adjusting the screw and nut mechanism 22 the outer head frame portion 19 may be adjusted longitudinally relative to the rearward frame portion 21 thereby to vary the tension of the series of parallel disintegrating chains. Separate screw and nut mechanisms 48 are provided for adjusting outer frame portions 49 of the outer guide bars 26 for adjusting the side disintegrating chains 28. Evidently the means for adjusting the tension of the multiplicity of endless disintegrating chains 28 and 41 may assume other known forms.

In the modification shown in FIG. the cross shaft 38 has rotary impellers 50 secured thereto and these impellers may engage the mineral discharged from certain of the core breaking and conveying chains 41 for moving the mineral rearwardly toward the conveying means 7. In this modified construction the guideways for the core breaking and conveying chains 41 are located downwardly with respect to the vertical guide bar portions 26 and 27 with the lower surfaces thereof substantially flush with the bottom surfaces of the vertical guide bars thereby leaving substantial upper mineral receiving spaces 51 through which the mineral may be conveyed rearwardly toward the impellers 50.

In the modification shown in FIG. 8 the outer portions 52 of the core breaking and conveying chains 41 move through substantially the same arcs as the arcs of movement of the outer portions of the chains 28 so that no substantial cores or projections of mineral are formed between vertical slots and the chains 41 at that time act as mineral disintegrating chains in the same manner as the chains 28. Otherwise this embodiment is similar to that shown in FIG. 6.

The mining apparatus during its operation may be located at the working face with the disintegrating head mechanism swung downwardly and the apparatus may be advanced toward the face by means of the treads of the crawler base to sump the head mechanism into the mineral to the position indicated in dotted lines at A in FIG. 2. Liquid under pressure may be then supplied under the control of any conventional control valve means to the hydraulic jacks 11 to swing the head mechanism upwardly about its pivot 5 to bring its outer end to the roof level as indicated by the upper dotted line position B shown in FIG. 2. The head mechanism may then be retracted rearwardly from the face by means of the threads of the crawler base. The vertical disintegrating chains 28 cut parallel vertical slots in the mineral as shown in FIG. 1 and the intermediate chains 41 engage the projections or cores of mineral between the slots to dislodge the same, and the dislodged and disintegrated mineral is conveyed rearwardly by the chains 41 to discharge onto the forward receiving portion of the conveying means 7. The side frame portions of the base frame may be formed to cooperate to provide a hopper-like or trough portion l 53 which serves to direct the disintegrated mineral from the outer chains 41 inwardly and downwardly toward the conveying means. The disintegrated mineral which falls to the mine floor is gathered by the oscillatory gatherers 13 and moved inwardly and rearwardly toward the conveying means. By driving the core breaking and conveying chains 41 at a relatively low speed substantial projections or cores of mineral are formed before the same are dislodged from the working face and by circulating the core breaking and conveying chains in a direction opposite to the direction of circulation of the chains 28, forces which tend to create unbalanced forces within the head mechanism are substantially counterbalanced one by the other thereby substantially reducing vibration within the apparatus during the mining operation.

As a result of this invention an improved mineral disintegrating mechanism i provided whereby the mineral of a solid mine vein may be dislodged and disintegrated in an extremely efiicient manner. By the provision of the several slot cutting chains and the series of intermediate core breaking and conveying chains moving in non-circular orbits at a relatively slow speed and in the direction opposite to the direction of orbital movement of the slot cutting chains not only efficiency in operation is obtained but also vibration is substantially reduced. Other advantages will be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art.

While there are in this application specifically described one preferred form and modifications thereof which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form and modifications of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be further modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a disintegrating head mechanism which is swingable about a pivot, parallel endless cutter bit carrying disintegrating chains, means for rapidly circulating said chains in elongated non-circular orbits, the pivot of the head mechanism lying within the orbits of said chains, parallel endless cutter bit carrying disintegrating chains arranged intermediate said first mentioned chains also circulated in elongated non-circular orbits with the head pivot lying outside of said latter orbits, the orbits of said outer chains being elongated a substantial distance forwardly of the orbits of said intermediate chains, and means for circulating said intermediate chains at a relatively slow speed including a driving element coaxial with said pivot and connections between said driving element and said intermediate chains including speed reducing gearing at least in part lying within the orbit of one of said first mentioned distintegrating chains.

2. A swingable disintegrating head mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said circulating means for said relatively slowly moving intermediate chains includes reverse gearing whereby said intermediate chains are driven to circulate in a direction opposite to the direction of circulation of said first mentioned chains.

3. A disintegrating head mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein a swingable guide frame provides guideways for guiding said chains for circulation in elongated non-circular orbits, said guide frame having its pivot which is the pivot of the head mechanism located a substantial distance rearwardly of the rearward portions of said intermediate chains whereby disintegrated mineral is discharged from said intermediate chains in advance of the pivot, said guide frame having an open space intermediate the rear portions of said first mentioned chains in advance of the pivot through which the disintegrated mineral is discharged.

4. A disintegrating head mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said intermediate chains are driven through said gearing to circulate in a direction to move the dislodged and disintegrated mineral rearwardly away from the working face, said intermediate chains discharging the mineral moved thereby in advance of the rearward portions of said outer chains forwardly of the pivot of said guide frame.

5. In a mineral disintegrating head mechanism, a head frame pivoted at its rear portion to swing in a vertical plane and providing parallel vertical guideways, endless cutter bit carrying disintegrating chains guided for circulation along said guideways in non-circular orbits, ad-

ditional guideways provided by said head frame intermediate said first mentioned guideways and of less longitudinal extent than the said first mentioned guideways, endless cutter bit carrying disintegrating chains guided for circulation in non-circular orbits along said additional guideways with the rear ends of the latter chains disposed a substantial distance in advance of the pivot of said head frame, means for driving said first mentioned chains at a relatively high speed, and means for driving said second mentioned chains at a relatively slow speed, said second mentioned disintegrating chains having their top runs serving to convey the disintegrated mineral rearwardly from the working face and the mineral discharging down between said first mentioned disintegrating chains in advance of the head frame pivot.

6. A disintegrating head mechanism as set forth in claim 5 wherein said last mentioned driving means effects drive of said second mentioned chains in a direction opposite to the direction of drive of said first mentioned chains whereby the first mentioned chains tend to counteract the working forces set up by said second mentioned chains during operation of the head mechanism.

7. A disintegrating head mechanism as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first mentioned driving means includes a driving element coaxial with the head frame pivot and said second mentioned driving means includes a parallel driving element located on said head frame in advance of the pivot thereof within the transverse projection of the orbits of said first mentioned disintegrating chains and driven by said first mentioned driving element. 8. In a disintegrating head mechanism, a head frame pivoted at its rearward portion to swing in a vertical plane about a transverse horizontal pivot, parallel vertical guideways extending longitudinally at the outer sides of said head frame, endless disintegrating chains guided for circulation in non-circular orbits along said guideways for cutting parallel slots in a mine vein, additional parallel vertical guideways extending longitudinally of said head frame in parallelism with and intermediate said first mentioned guideways, said additional guideways being of less longitudinal extent than said first mentioned guideways with their forward portions disposed rearwardly of the forward portions of said first mentioned guideways, endless disintegrating chains guided for circulation in non-circular orbits along said additional guideways for dislodging the mineral between said slots and conveying the disintegrated mineral rearwardly, said first mentioned chains projecting forwardly longitudinally of said head frame in advance of the forward portions of said second mentioned chains, means for driving said first mentioned chains at a relatively high linear speed, and means for driving said second mentioned chains at a relatively slow linear speed, said head frame having an open space between the sides thereof at its rearward portion and in advance of its pivot through which the mineral moved rearwardly by said second mentioned chains is discharged, said second mentioned chains being arranged longitudinally of said head frame and spaced at their opposite end portions from the opposite end portions of said side chains, said second mentioned chains discharging the mineral conveyed thereby downwardly between the rearward portions of said first mentioned chains through a space disposed in advance of the head frame pivot.

9. In a disintegrating head mechanism for dislodging mineral from a mine vein, a head frame pivoted at its rearward portion to swing in a vertical plane about a transverse horizontal pivot, parallel vertical guideways extending longitudinally at the outer sides of said head frame, endless cutter bit carrying disintegrating chains guided for circulation in non-circular orbits along said guideways for cutting parallel slots in the mineral of the mine vein, additional parallel vertical guideways extending longitudinally of said head frame in parallelism with and intermediate said first mentioned guideways, said additional guideways being of less longitudinal extent than said first mentioned guideways with their forward portions disposed rearwardly of the forward portions of said first mentioned guideways, endless cutter bit carrying disintegrating chains guided for circulation in non-circular orbits along said additional guideways for dislodging the mineral between said slots and conveying the disintegrated mineral rearwardly, means for driving said first mentioned chains at a relatively high linear speed, and means for driving said second mentioned chains at a relatively slow linear speed, said head frame having an open space between said sides thereof at its rearward portion and in advance of its pivot through which the mineral moved rearwardly by said second mentioned chains is discharged, said open space located intermediate the rearward portions of said first ment oned disintegrating chains.

10. A disintegrating head mechanism as set forth in claim 9 wherein said driving means for said second mentioned chains effects drive thereof in a direction opposite to the direction of drive of said first mentioned chains whereby the top runs of said second mentioned chains move rearwardly away from the working face and said second mentioned chains tend to counteract the working stresses set up by said first mentioned chains during operation of the head mechanism.

11. A disintegrating head mechanism as set forth in claim 9 wherein said driving means for said first mentioned chains has a driving element coaxial with said head frame pivot and said driving means for said second mentioned chains has a driving element coaxial with said head frame pivot and cooperating driving elements located on said head frame in advance of said head frame pivot within the transverse projection of the orbits of said first mentioned disintegrating chains.

12. A disintegrating head mechanism as set forth in claim 9 wherein the longitudinal median lines of said first and second mentioned disintegrating chains and guideways lie in a common transverse plane extending centrally longitudinally of the head mechanism with said vertical guideways lying in planes extending perpendicularly to said common plane.

13. A disintegrating head mechanism as set forth in claim 9 wherein a vertical guide and a cooperating disintegrating chain are located centrally between and coextensive with said side guideways and chains and said additional guideways are arranged on the head mechanism between said side guideways and said central guideway, at least one run of said second mentioned chains lying inside the transverse projection of the orbits of said first mentioned chains and the mineral moved rearwardly by said second mentioned chains is discharged downwardly through spaces between the rearward portions of said side chains and said intermediate chains in advance of the head frame pivot.

14. In a disintegrating head mechanism for dislodging mineral from a mine vein, a head frame pivoted at its rearward portion to swing in a vertical plane about a transverse horizontal pivot, parallel vertical guideways extending longitudinally at the outer sides of said head frame, endless cutter bit carrying disintegrating chains guided for circulation in non-circular orbits along said guideways for cutting parallel slots in the mineral of the mine vein, additional parallel vertical guideways extending longitudinally of said head frame in parallelism with and intermediate said first mentioned guideways, said additional guideways being of less longitudinal extent than said first mentioned guideways with their forward portions disposed in adjacency to the forward portions of said first mentioned guideways, endless cutter bit carrying disintegrating chains guided for circulation in noncircular orbits along said additional guideways for dislodging the mineral between said slots and conveying the disintegrated mineral rearwardly, means for driving said first mentioned chains at a relatively high linear speed, and means for driving said second mentioned chains at a relatively slow linear speed, said head frame having an open space between said sides thereof at its rearward portion and in advance of its pivot through which the mineral moved rearwardly by said second mentioned chains is discharged, said open space located intermediate the rearward portions of said first mentioned disintegrating chains.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS mil-MM 

